Winter Appeal Launches
The Surviving Winter Appeal, an initiative headed by a local charity – Dorset Community Foundation, launched recently to help local older people in fuel poverty. Donations raised by the charity will be paid as winter fuel grants to older people over 60 who are struggling to make ends meet because of the cold weather.
The Appeal, which is in its seventh year, initially started because shockingly high numbers of older vulnerable people were dying during the winter months. The latest stats available from the Offi ce for National Statistics reveal that during the winter of 2014/15, 920 vulnerable people died in Dorset. Due to rising fuel costs and social isolation amongst the elderly, more and more local older people cannot afford to adequately heat their homes thus risking their health and in some cases – even their lives.
Last year the Appeal raised nearly £25,000 helping 91 local households. Mr Y, who wishes to remain anonymous, is one of the local older people supported by the Appeal. He is a carer for his wife, who has been diagnosed with cancer several times over the last six years. She feels the cold more since her treatments. They are both of State Retirement Pension age and have a limited income. Receiving a Surviving Winter grant last year allowed them to pay the higher energy bills. This reduced the fi nancial stress on them both; the worry about the expected energy bill was exacerbating her health issues.
Jon Yates, Chief Executive at the Foundation explained: “It is shocking that here in Dorset, hundreds of local older people die during the winter months, as they cannot afford to heat their homes. Our latest available information shows that almost three times the numbers are
dying in Dorset due to the cold compared to our neighbours in Wiltshire. This fact is simply shocking, and it is why we need your help once again.”
To donate your winter fuel allowance, send a cheque made out to ‘Dorset Community Foundation’ to: DCF, The Spire, High Street, Poole, BH15 1DF. Alternatively, donate online at
www.dorsetcommunityfoundation.org. Online donations made before midday on Tuesday 5th December will be doubled.
Surviving winter grants of up to £200 are available through Citizens Advice Bureaus across Dorset. Contact your nearest branch or call 01929 775500.
READ THE LINK on your phone or tablet
You can now swipe through our magazines online and simply tap on any web or email address to open a website or send an email.
Find links to the current issues at the top of our Facebook posts.
48
To advertise, please contact 01202 657317 or email
karen@broadstonelink.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
